N.C.A.A. Allows Extra Year of Eligibility for Athletes in Curtailed Spring Sports

The decision did not cover winter sports, like basketball and gymnastics, which had postseason events disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. The N. C. A.

A. Division I Council voted on Monday to open the door to another year of eligibility for all spring-sport athletes, whose seasons were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak. But whether an athlete is able to return will largely depend on the decisions by universities, which will determine how much scholarship aid to offer and whether to apply for an individual to receive an N. C.

A. A. waiver allowing an additional season. For example, a college could allow an athlete’s eligibility to be restored on the condition that the athlete pay some or all of the cost of attendance.

The additional season applies to sports like baseball, softball, golf, tennis, lacrosse, track and field, beach volleyball and rowing. Those sports were shut down on March 12, the same day the N. C. A.

A. ended postseason tournaments in winter sports — like men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling and gymnastics. The winter athletes will not be allowed to claim extra eligibility. Scholarship restrictions will be eased to permit schools to cover returning seniors while accommodating incoming freshmen and transfers.

Baseball rosters, for instance, are restricted to 35 players, but any senior who returns will not be counted against that limit. “It’s a good day for college baseball, big picture,” said Edwin Thompson, the baseball coach at Eastern Kentucky University. “The logistics, we’ll figure it out. The important thing is at least the kids have an opportunity — that’s all you can ask in life.

What they do with it is on them. ” The plan approved by the 40-person council was partly influenced by financial pressures that athletic departments could be facing, particularly if football is affected by the coronavirus this fall. The council is composed largely of athletic directors and conference commissioners, but it also includes several student-athletes and academics.